How to Say Goodbye

   I know life is full of goodbyes, but it seems like I can’t quite get used to them. I’ve had had say a lot of goodbyes in the last year. I said goodbye to childhood, as I turned 18 and graduated high school and left home to do this grand adventure. I said goodbye to my family. I said goodbye to my friends. I said goodbye to one of my best friends, my dog of 17 years, Dakota, when he died in October. I’ve met incredible speakers who minister to me and change my life, then I have to say goodbye. Even saying goodbye to random people in coffeeshops or supermarkets that are the product of divine appointmets. Saying goodbye to people you minister to on the street or in the hospital in Fiji. The tearful goodbye leaving the New Beginnings church and the incredible Sumasafu family. Even kids at DrunkFest with whom we got close. Saying goodbye to the sweet children from the children’s program in Kaitaia and then the Virtue Church and Sullivan family happened as well. And now, here I am, at the end of my DTS, saying goodbye to people that have become my family. It’s the hardest goodbye I’ve ever had to do. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much in my life. I love each and every one of these people, students and staff alike, so much. They are each so precious to me and have made a huge impact on my life. and I’m not just saying bye to one of them, but all of them at the same time (minus Hannah and Rebekah). And we’re all going home to our separate ends of the globe. The closest person to my house in Franklin, TN is a 2 to 3 day drive away. Woah. But that’s life. in 2 weeks, I’ll be waving goodbye to Hannah and Rebekah and New Zealand for 6 months. When I come back, I’ll be saying goodbye to home for at least a year. But the beautiful thing about goodbye is the fact that there was a hello to begin with. And those hellos have changed my life. So, I’m looking forward to a life of hellos, because I know that, though I’m saying goodbye to this adventure, God is always holding a new one.

I love you, my DTS family, and I can’t wait to see you all again!